I was shocked and aghast to read the
comments of author Wendy Doniger calling Indian Judiciary as the main
villain in this case. Equally shocking was the article of Ram Chandra Guha
carried by your esteemed newspaper stating that courts have failed to protect
artistic rights. Equally stunning was the letter of Arundhati Roy calling us Hindu
fanatic outfit, fly-by-night-outfit and fascists on the one hand and
threatening Penguin with protests outside their office on the other hand. All
these three reactions displayed the same mindset which is anti Hindu mindset
and holds “we will obey the law, if it suits us otherwise damn it.”
Wendy
Doniger wrote in her ill-famed book that Swami
Vivekananda & Mahatma Gandhi advised people to eat beef. Mangal Pandey hero
of 1st Independence Movement was under influence of bhang, opium,
alcohol; Rani Laxmibai was loyal to the British. Shivalinga is a representation
of the male sexual organ in erection. Lord Rama said only an idiot like father
would give up a good son like him for the sake of pretty women. The map of
India is shown without Kashmir.
The
objectionable passages are per-se defamatory, objectionable and insulting to
our freedom fighters and the Hindu Gods. Eminent personalities including former
ambassador, historian,educationist,freedom fighter approached court of law for
deletion of such passages. After 4 years of legal battle, Penguin agreed to
withdraw this book and gave an undertaking to the court to this effect. Hence
the withdrawal of this book is an outcome of a valid, legal battle fought by
people of eminence in this vibrant democracy.
Further
this lynch mob and intolerant pseudo-secularists in the name of freedom of
expression are crying from rooftops and demanding freedom of defamation.
India
is governed by Rule of Law which states that law is Supreme and governs the
whole country and its people. Article 19 of the Constitution of India states
the fundamental Rights of freedom of expression which comes with reasonable
restrictions in public order, morality, unity and integrity.
But
the likes of Arundhati Roy are alien to the concept of Rule of Law. She has
been more in the news for being on the wrong side of law and was even held
guilty for Contempt of Court. Criminal cases were lodged against her for
sharing platform with separatists and preaching the separation of Kashmir from
India. She has questioned the use of the word ‘Bharat’ for India by Penguin,
not realizing that Article 1 of the Constitution of India calls “India, that is Bharat shall be
a union of states.”
Hence
the aforementioned people are damning the Indian Courts, damning the publishing
house which stated that it respected all religions and damning the group of
eminent, educated people who out of their conviction did not resort to any
violence but adopted purely legal, civilized means to approach the Court of law
for a legal remedy for their legitimate legal grievances. But these champions
of freedom of expressions have took upon them their favorite agenda to attack
all those who do not agree with them and who dare to talk in favour of Hindus
or the Freedom Fighters of this country. They are the likes of the American
President who openly declared “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.”
Similarly they declare that either you are with us or you are fascists,
extremists and fanatics. This intolerant section has one motto damn everyone
who does not agree with them in the name of freedom of expression.
I
most humbly state that merely getting an International award does not make you
Ms. Wendy Doniger and Ms. Arundhati Roy above the Indian Law and does not give
you a right to damn the Indian Courts, Judiciary and all these voices who
disagree with you. Further it does not give you freedom to defame the freedom
Fighters and any religion in the name of freedom of expression.
Monika Arora,
Advocate for Sh. Dinanath Batra
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